Seven Deadly Sins show @ Rothick Art Haus , "Hungry Hungry Glutton"

I am a day late and a buck short on this blog entry! Last night was a very successful Seven Deadly Sins themed show at Rothick Art Haus in Anaheim, CA, that I was super fortunate to partake in. I met some new friends and got to spend time with the Rothick family, a good time was had by all. I chose Gluttony as my sin and theme for my 16" x 16" oil painting titled "Hungry Hungry Glutton."

The piece was a culmination of several ideas and influences, one being a video of two hippos in a vicious territorial battle in Kruger National Park in Africa, and a watermelon that I was gluttonous enough to devour in Costa Rica. I love painting animals and reflections so this was a ton of fun, get it? Ton of fun? Okay okay I'm not funny, but I hope you enjoy this hippopotamus!

"Hungry Hungry Glutton" hippo

Rothick 7 Deadly Sins show flyer

"Gilding the Lily" Rhinos for Wonderland

Here is my entry for the "I Want To Be First" show at Kat Von D's Wonderland Gallery. The title is "Gilding the Lily" and it is a fairly large piece with dimensions of 30 inches x 40 inches. 
My artist quote for the painting :  "An international leader in wildlife conservation and animal husbandry, and founder of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick was the first person to successfully hand-rear milk dependent elephants and rhinos. Orphaned due to poaching and left for dead, these animals are given a second chance at life while living at the Trust's nursery, slowly being rehabilitated and introduced back into the wild. With the help of de-snaring projects and patrols led by the Trust, I hope that someday poaching will be a problem of our past and not our future."

The issue of poaching is one that is very dear to my heart. 
It is believed in Asian cultures that rhino horn cures ailments and cancer; this has been clinically proven as FALSE. Therefore these animals are being slaughtered for no other purpose than human greed and traditions. It is projected that if rhino poaching continues at the same rate, we will lose them in three generations, that means that in 30-60 years there will be no more rhinos on planet Earth. What a tragedy. I hope that you will share this image with friends to spread awareness for the campaign and help The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and others that are on the forefront of saving our wildlife.

"Gilding The Lily" framed

"Gilding The Lily" Detail shot